The former Manchester City and Chelsea forward moved to Merseyside in January and believes that he now has the chance to develop to his full potential.

DAN THE MAN

STURRIDGE'S LIVERPOOL CAREER

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He told the Reds' official website: "I'm very grateful - very grateful to the manager for giving me an opportunity.

"I was at Man City before Chelsea and everything was fine there, in fairness. I didn't have any problems, everything worked out, but I chose to leave because I didn't feel it was the best place for me to further my career.

"I moved on to Chelsea and had success. We won trophies and I have medals but, in terms of my own individual ambitions, I didn't get to fulfil them.

"Hopefully here, now I'm at a club that believes in me with a manager who believes in me, I can give the fans something to smile about.

"I thank the manager for giving me the opportunity to get where I am today. My driving force isn't to prove people wrong. I am just trying to fulfil the talent that God gave me."

The 23-year-old had often been deployed on the flanks at his previous clubs but always hankered for a central striking role. Rodgers has brought him in from the wing to spearhead the Liverpool attack in tandem with leading scorer Luis Suarez and the partnership has shown considerable early promise.

"I don't feel any pressures about coming here and playing up front because I've been doing that since I was six years old. To me, it's not a pressure," Sturridge insisted.

"What the manager said to me when I first joined is that 'words don't describe it, you have to be here and be a part of it to understand'. When I joined I immediately realised what he meant.

"I don't think I could tell someone - you just have to be here and a part of it to understand the feeling.

"I've enjoyed every minute since I joined the club. It's been a great time here for me and I'm enjoying part of the future here.

"I've been coming in, working hard, getting on with my team-mates and the staff and everyone has made me feel really welcome. I can't complain! I feel like this is my home now. I don't have any worries about the future."